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Help picking the right video card

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chockomonkey

[H]F Junkie
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i'm building a computer for myself for the first time. And, though i think that video cards are simple, (the more memory the better?), i have a feeling that i'm wrong (everything in this neck of the woods has ended up far more complicated than i ever anticipated.) So can someone give me some info on how to choose the right video card?

thanks
 
One vid card right now that combines speed with price at unseen ratios.

Get the Radeon 9800 Pro. You will not regret it.

As for speed of vid cards, there are many factors. Architecture, core clocks, ram clocks, etc.

Size of memory is misleading. All you need is 128mb. 256mb is a marketing scheme and will cost much more for no performance increase.
 
If you're on a budget (like I am,) get a Radeon 9700 Pro. Nothing wrong with the card at all. Just cheap 'n good.

I'm sure someone here could give you an nVidia solution, if you have preference.
 
although i do love my 9600xt :), i think a newb might be slightly more happy with nvidia because of more stable drivers and slightly better game compatability.
 
While we make the assumption that your homebuilt is going to be for gaming, we should also justify some of our sugestions. I would invite you to read [H]'s review on the 9800xt. While the Xt is a VERY expensive card, they also benchmark the 9800 pro, alongside the new Nvidia flagship cards. The ATI products are superior, and thats all there is to it.
I picked up a 9800 non pro and overclocked it, but right now you can pick up a genuine 9800 pro on ebay for around $200, which should be completely acceptable as far as price goes if this is going to be a gaming system.
 
Don't listen to the other two. straightedgesnow is on the dot.

Right now, there is no contest. For the BEST price/performance, it's definently the 9800pro at $210 new.
 
Originally posted by pduan87
Don't listen to the other two. straightedgesnow is on the dot.

Right now, there is no contest. For the BEST price/performance, it's definently the 9800pro at $210 new.
Click to expand...

Darn tootin! I even picked up one, and i havent upgraded my video card since i built this computer. I went from a 8500Le 128 to my 9800Pro 128, simply stunning.
 
Another vote for the 9800Pro, i think it will last 2~3 years minimum :D

OldMX
 
So, then what is the difference between nVidia and ATI that makes ati more 'difficult'?
 
Originally posted by chockomonkey
So, then what is the difference between nVidia and ATI that makes ati more 'difficult'?
Click to expand...

It usually the person sitting between the chair and monitor that decides how difficult stuff is ;)
 
Originally posted by pduan87
It usually the person sitting between the chair and monitor that decides how difficult stuff is ;)
Click to expand...

usually how it works, hah.:D
 
Originally posted by chockomonkey
So, then what is the difference between nVidia and ATI that makes ati more 'difficult'?
Click to expand...


I don't understand that myself. If you can build a computer, I'm sure that you can handle any video card.
 
9800 SE --> 9800 Pro
or
256MB 9800 Pro --> 9800XT

You have a very good chance for both conversions. Chances are, if you buy the 256MB 9800 Pro, you will get a r360 core instead of the r350 128MB 9800 Pro. This is because ATI just bins cores that don't pass XT speeds as a 256MB Pro (also easier to make just one core instead of two). The conversion is slightly more complicated as it involves flashing the BIOS. With the 9800 SE --> 9800 Pro conversion, all you need is OCFaq or Omega drivers and a bit of luck in not getting artifacts.
 
Originally posted by DaveX
9800 SE --> 9800 Pro
or
256MB 9800 Pro --> 9800XT

You have a very good chance for both conversions. Chances are, if you buy the 256MB 9800 Pro, you will get a r360 core instead of the r350 128MB 9800 Pro. This is because ATI just bins cores that don't pass XT speeds as a 256MB Pro (also easier to make just one core instead of two). The conversion is slightly more complicated as it involves flashing the BIOS. With the 9800 SE --> 9800 Pro conversion, all you need is OCFaq or Omega drivers and a bit of luck in not getting artifacts.
Click to expand...

I would not recommend the 9800 SE mod right now. With how cheap the pro is, why take the chance? It is somewhere around 50/50 I think... As for the 256mb Pro, it's still not worth the money. For $100 more, thats a measly performance increase.
 
Well, I would get one of those refurbished 256MB 9800 Pro's but apparently newegg seems to be out at the moment.
 
Originally posted by straightedgesnow
The ATI products are superior, and thats all there is to it.
Click to expand...

i disagree.

and what you'll find is that the ATI vs. nVidia debate is much like the Mac vs. PC debate. each person has their own experiences and biases.

what's your budget?

i have an MSI 5900XT, which is the lowest end of the highest series that nVidia makes. this card overclocks like a champ. for me, it went from 390 core/700 memory to 506 core/800 memory with the stock cooler without breaking a sweat.

it goes (low end to high end)

5900XT or SE (~ $180) [weird marketing - the XT and the SE are the same card in the nVidia family]

5900 (becoming harder to find) (~$215)

5900 Ultra (~$350)

5950 Ultra (~$400+)

They also just released the 5700 Ultra last year, that's only slightly cheaper than the 5900XT and not as fast.
 
IMHO nVidia has better support but ATI just wins in performance right now.
 
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by straightedgesnow
The ATI products are superior, and thats all there is to it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I disagree with that blind faith ^^^.

In the world of reality, ATI is better in some games, and nVidia is better in some games.

However, for hardware/driver/game compatibility, nVidia has the better track record.
 
You'll need to state your budget and use before you get any sort of decent answer to your question.
 
As of right now, i dont' have a budget. i'm willing to spend good money for a part that I will be pleased with. My uses are primarily gaming. I don't do any of that video editing, photoshop... whatever... just gaming and office-type stuff.
 
Then your best bet is a 9800 pro or XT. However, I would still suggest checking out what NVIDIA and ATI have up their sleeves in the next month.
 
Grab a 9800pro or XT, I can see some games running better with 256megs in the near future if you dont plan on upgrading for a long time XT, if you're probably going to upgrade soon, then wait for the next gen cards to drop :) Please don't waste your money on a GF FX at a time like this, at least get their next gen when its released if it's good, i would highly reccommend NOT getting a GF FX right now, specially if you like farcry :D
 
How do you all know what is comming out? I heard that AMD is also releasing some new architecture or something in the next couple weeks. But how do you know? 'cause i'm really pissed of at this current computer, and i don't want to have to wait too long... and as i figure it, in this area of technology, you could potentially be waiting for somehting new to come out since things are always moving so quickly.
 
Nvidia has announced that they are launching their next architecture april 13th, it is on their website. both ati and nvidia were showing off their new architectures at cebit to anyone who would sign an nda. it makes sense that ati will launch the r420 on or before the 13th in an attempt to upstage nvidia. if you assume about 30 days from launch to seeing the products in stores, they will arrive in may at the earliest.
 
how often does new stuff get released? if i really want this compter to get going, then is it worth the wait?
 
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